Overload air-break switch.



C. G. KOPPITZ.

OVERLOAD MR BREAK SWITCH. APPLICATION FILED IUNE 22. mr

1,316,901. Patented Sept. 23,1919;

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4 attorney v C. G. KOPPITZ. OVERLOAD Am BREAK SWITCH.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 22.1911. 1,316,9Q1 PatentedSept. 23, 1919. 4 SHEETSSHET 2.

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Patented Sept. 23, 1919.

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CARL G. KOTPITZ, OF GREENSBTIRG, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOB 'O RAILWAY AND INDUSTRIAL ENGINEERING COMPANY, OF GREENSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, A

CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

OVERLOAD AIR-BREAK SWITCH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 23, 1919.

Application filed June 22, 191?. Serial No. 176,409. I

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CARL G. Korrrra, a

citizen of the United vStates of America,

switches such as. are used on high tension circuits and, in particular, to that class of switches which are automatically opened when a heavy overload or short circuit occurs on the line.

While it is comparatively easy to provide satisfactory protection devices of this character for low potential circuits, the protection of high potential circuits presents more difiicult problems to solve.

A certain degree of protection can, of

course, be obtained by means of a horn gap fuse, but this fuse has the drawback, which can be sufficiently appreciated only in the practical operation of systems of this kind,

that the renewal is a tedious process and consumes considerable time.

Good protection may be afforded by the use of automatic oil switches, but the cost of such equipment is often prohibitive, especially in the case of small installations.

It is the object of the present invention to meet the above mentioned objections and produce a simple and effective device which is available for small and large installations alike.

In carrying out the object of my invention, I have introduced what I-believe to be an entirely novel feature. I have mounted an automatic trip mechanism on the top of an insulator wlaich rotates to transmit power to operate directly or indirectly a main switch. By this arrangement it is possible to place the automatic trip on the hot side of a high tension power transmission system, instead of operating a grounded trip on the grounded side of the system; It is necessaryto use an auxiliary trip which can be made of rugged construction to be in turn operated by the automatic trip which may be of comparatively delicate construction.

While the features just pointed out are just as essential in connection with a single switch as with a multiple switch system, I illustrate the principles of my invention in 'ferred embodiment, a multiple switch sysconnection with, what I consider as a pretern.

In the drawings Figure 1 represents a multiple switch system, as applied to a three phase circuit in elevation;

gig. 2 the same system in side elevation; an 1 Fig. 3 is a plan View;

Fig. 4 shows a rotatable insulator and automatic trip mechanism in vertical section; I

Fig. 5 a plan view of the same, the protecting hood being shown in section;

Figs. 6, 7 and 8 are plan View, elevation and end view, respectively, of the auxiliary trip mechanism, the protecting hood being I removed;

Fig. 9 a plan view similar to Fig. 6,"of certain detail, parts of the structure being shown in section; and

Fig.'10 is a detail, partly in section.

In Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the switch system is shown as mounted on a support comprising a plurality of channel rails conncdteil in suitable manner to produce a strong and. solid frame and facilitate the disposition of the various switch elements for cooperative relationship. Two pairs of channel beams 1, 1 and 2,2 are interconnected by three pairs of channel rails 3, 3, 4, 4, and 5, 5,

through intermediate short lengths of rails so as to space slightly one set from the other for a purpose to be described later on.

Since these intermediate rails are all alike only one pair 6, 6 is indicated. Upon each of the rails 3, 3, 4, 4 and 5, 5' is mounted a set of insulators belonging to one line. Each set comprises an ordinary stationary insulator, a rotatable insulator and two intermediate insulators mounted on a single rotatable base and forming the rotary part of eaclcifiswitch. Since the three switches are identi l, the description of one applies to each. v

The stationary insulator 7 carries at its top a line tern'linal 8, one half 9 of a horn .fiexible bonding the rotatable insulator to the knife bladeat a point vertically above the pivot of the base. To insure good electrical'contact a wire 17 connects the conduct-or 16 and knife blade 15. That insulator on the rotary element which is opposite the stationary insulator 7, namely insulator 14 carries the other half 9 of the horn gap switch. The arrangement, which is substantially like that disclosed in the patent to Burke, 1,099,421, is such that the horns will still make contact when the blade 15 has left the clip 11 and will finally break the circuit. The rotatable insulator 10 supports at its top an automatic trip mechanism, normally covered by a hood 21. 1

Having special reference to Fig; 4, the

insulator 10 comprises a pin 22 mounted for rotation .inisleeve 23 whlch has a flange 24 for connection to a cross-rall. The sleeve 23 has an extension 23 below flange 24 to" serve as a support and guide for a strong coil spring 25. This spring 25 has one end connected to a stationary part, as for instance the flange 24, and the other end to the sleeve 22 which is secured. to the pin 22 by a keyor belt 122. The pin 22 has preferably, immediately above the sleeve 23, an overhanging shoulder 26 to prevent rain from getting into the bearing. The insnlator, which is preferably of-the petticoat type, has rigid connected at, the top a pin or shank 27 W ich carries atijts upper end an arm 28 forming one element" of the tripmechanism. .Arm' 28 is shown as attached to pin 27 by means of a sleeve 29 keyed to pin 27 by a screw 30.

The other elements of the trip mechanism are supported on a frame which is held stationary relative to the general supporting structure. This frame comprises a base 31 loosely surrounding pin 27 and resting on a shoulder 32 on the pin, an upright por tion 33 and top portions 34 and 35. Top

portion 34 has an aperture in alinement with the aperture on the base to receive the pin 27. Between the top portion 35 and an extension 36 0n the base 31 is held trip coil 37. A stationary core 38 issupported in the plate 35 and extends a definite distance within the'coil 37.. A plunger or movable 1 core 39 is confined within the lower, part of the coil and-carries atrjp rod 40 extending upwardly through an aperture 41 in the stationary core, Inoider to adjust the position of the plunger 50 that it will. be drawn into the coil at an desired overload current, have provi ed an adjusting screw 42 having screwjhreaded engagement with the plunger. The bottom of the screw terminates in a head '43 and a loclrnut 44 is used to lock screw 42 in adjusted position.

2 Between the nut i land the bottom face of the plunger I preferably place a fuide plate 45 having lugs 46. A cylindrical casing 47 having a closed bottom incloses the lower portion of the plunger and the adjusting elements. This casing, which has slits 47 through which the lugs 46 on the guide plate 45 project, is secured to the lower face of extension 36 as by screws 48. When the casing 47 is in place, the head 43 will rest on the bottom of the casing. On the outside of the casing I provide a scale to coiiperate with lugs 46. The position of the lugs on the scale indicates the distance of the head 43 from the bottom face of the plunger and therefore the position of the plunger in the coil. This is merely an ordinary way of adjusting overload relays. It is obvious that the adjustment may be made in various other ways.

, Current enters the terminal 49, passes through the primary of a current trans- .former 50 and then passes through the terminal board 51 to the line wire 52. The

trip coil is connected across the terminals of the secondary of the current transformer 50, (not shown). It'is understood that a current transformer may be dispensed with and the trip coil may be connected in series with the line.

On the arm 28 is pivoted a latch 53 provided with a latch plate 54 made of special steel, such as tool steel. A spring 55 which is secured'to the arm 28 at one end bears on latch 53 to press it downwardly to an .eX-

treme positlon determined by the engagement of shoulderson the latch andv the arm 28 .(not shown). This position is such that, when the arm 28 is in operative position, the latch plate 54 will engage the upper edge of a stationary latch plate 56 secured to a shoulder 57 on the frame portion 35 The various parts of the trip mechanism and the insulator are so dispositionedthat, when the latch 53 is locked against latch plate 56, the spring 25 is under tension.

When an overload current rises to the"pre movement from an automatic trip located on the high-tension side of the transmission system through the high-tension insulator itself and thereby obviates the necessity of an electrical connection from the high ten sion side to the switch operating mechanism and of special ground connections for pr0- tecting the operator.

In order to translate the movement tramright hand movement of the latch has provceeded very far so that the spring 82 returns the rotatable element of the switches to'th'eir open position, before they are closed.

rent will operate the main trip and rod 0 will receive an impulse to the left and trip arm 62 .will'strilre thedatch 7 2 before the The rotatable elements 12 of the three switches. are interconnected by rods 87 and 88 so that upon the action of one of the main trips all three switches are simultaneously opened.

While I have described a specific con struction embodying my invention in order to facilitate a full understanding of the principles governing it, it is obvious that my invention can be applied in various other ways, to other systems and may be carried out in dill'erent forms. The details I have shown are merely r ferred to for purposes of illustration and 23.1) not in any sense constitute limitations.

1 claim 1. in an electric circuit the combination of a rotatable insulator, an automatic trip.

located at the line side of the insulator and means for transmitting the action of the trip through the insulator.

In an electric circuit the combination oi a rotatable insulator, an automatic re lay, means for locking the insulator in one position when the relay is inoperative and means tending to turn the insulator to another position.

In a, high tension circuit the combination of a stationary support, an insulator rotatably mounted in said support, an automatic trip mounted on the top oi the insulator and means for transmitting the action of the trip through the insulator.

4. In a. high tension circuit the combination of a. stationary support, an insulator rotatablymounted in said support, an automatic trip mounted on the top of the insulator, locking;mechanism between the insulator and the trip and means for rotating the insulator when said lock is broken.

5. in a high tension circuit the combination of a trip mechanism energized by the said circuit, a support and an insulator rotatably mounted thereon, means for interlocking the insulator and the trip mechanism, me: for rotating the insulator when 1 broken and means for bringing the insulator back to interlocking position.

6. In a high tension circuit the combinaimceoi tion of a tripmechanism energized by the said circuit, a support and an insulator rotatably mounted on said support, a pin extending from the insulator carrying; a latch arm and a latch for locking the insulator in suitable position relatively to the trip mechanism. and means for rotating the insulator when the latch is disengaged by the trip .mechanism.

responsive to one line, a rotatable element of insulating material associated with each of said trip mechanisms and having one end connected thereto, an auxiliary trip mechanism, and a connecting rod connected to the other end of each of said rotatable elements and to the auxiliary trip mechanism.

9. A trip mechanism comprising a support, a shaft mounted thereon, an arm loosely turning on the shaft, an arm secured to the shaft, a latch carried by the second arm and adapted to engage the first arm to lock the two arms against relative movement in one direction, a rod mounted for reciprocating movement, a cam on the rod adapted to strike the latch to disengage it from the first arm when the rod is movedin one direction, and means on the shaft and the rod for moving the rod in the op posite direction.

10. A trip mechanism comprising a support, a shaft mounted thereon, an arm loosely turning on the shaft, an arm secured to the shaft, a. latch carried by the second arm and adapted to engage the firstarm when the shaft is rotated in one direction, a rod mounted for reciprocating movement, a cam on the rod adapted to strike the latch to disengage it from the first arm when the rod is moved in one direction and a. cam on the shaft and a shoulder on the rod for moving the rod in opposite direction 

